One man was killed and three teenagers were injured in an early morning crash Saturday in Leelanau County. AP Photo

LEELANAU COUNTY, MI – An early morning crash Saturday that left one dead and three others hospitalized was caused by the teen driver’s attempt to “catch air” for a “roller coaster effect,” according to witnesses.

The incident took place at about 12:40 a.m. when a 2005 Nissan driven by a 16-year-old from Lake Leelanau ran a stop sign while headed south on Schomberg Road, according to a release from the Leelanau County Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle carrying three teens collided with a 2004 Ford pickup, driven by Brian Nachazel, 31, of Cedar, heading east on Bodus Road.

The crash caused the truck to go off the southeast corner of the intersection and into a power pole, which snapped.

The Nissan also rolled over and landed on its top at the southeast corner of the intersection.

Two of the teenagers were immediately removed from the vehicle and taken to Munson Medical Center. Authorities worked for two hours to extricate a third teenager, who was then airlifted to the hospital.

Nachazel was not restrained and two of the three teens were not wearing seat belts. Accident reconstructionists remained at the scene until 8:45 a.m.

The driver of the Nissan did not stop at the intersection to maintain speed in order to experience a “roller coaster effect,” friends of the involved teenagers told police. The friends had been following the Nissan in a third vehicle.

Police did not release the name of the teen driver, but did say a 16-year-old passenger from Maple City and Drake Hendershot, 17, of Empire were injured in the crash.

All three teenagers remained hospitalized as of Monday morning, according to police.

Hendershot is in critical condition, according to a hospital representative.

The incident is still under investigation pending toxicology results and further examination of the involved vehicles.